Market Day!

My roommate, Kelsie, and I have been eager to learn more about the Filipino lifestyle and culture. So far we had only gone to grocery stores for food shopping each week, but had heard about the busy markets that many Filipinos frequent. We knew that our Ate, Nimfa, went each week and so we asked if we could tag along on a Saturday morning. She was excited that we wanted to join her!

One thing that we hadn't experienced yet was the public transportation of Manila. We took 4 jeepney rides total on our trip. The jeepney is lined with a bench on both sides where people sit closely together. You pay by passing money up to the driver (about 20 cents a ride). To get off, you either pull on a little cord or give two hard knocks on the roof. We had fun jumping on the jeepneys, and the other passengers found it interesting to see white girls as fellow passengers. :)

Nimfa leading us to the 2nd jeepney

Kelsie, Jacque and I enjoying the ride

Once we arrived, we went to a part of the market that sold clothes ranging in price from less than $1 to $5. It was fun to look at all they had! Some things were very similar to what you would see in America while other things were very Filipino. After venturing this market, we headed to the wet market, where meat, fruit, and veggies were sold. It was extremely crowded and had a strong, distinct smell. Nimfa told us that you don't see a lot of white people at the wet market and this resulted in a lot of stares from the nationals.

Jacque, Kelsie and I at the clothing market

Fruit sales

The meat at the wet market was extremely fresh. We would see freshly killed chickens being brought in, the butchering table, and then the vast assortment of chicken parts to buy. This was also true with the pigs. When the Filipinos noticed us taking pictures, they were eager to have us turn our camera their way and snap a picture of them with their merchandise. :) After browsing the chicken, pork, and fish sections, we moved on to the veggies and fruit. We entered an area with a very muddy floor that you couldn't help sliding in. Their was a stench in this area as well, and that was when I got to the point of being ready to head home. :)

Poor Wilbur!

A butcher posing with his pig head

All types of vegetables and spices

Kelsie and the pasta selection

I am so thankful for the morning I had with Kelsie, our friend Jacque, and Ate Nimfa. It was a fun adventure and I enjoyed being immersed in the Filipino culture. The Lord has blessed me with a lot of joy and happiness throughout the past few weeks and each day I feel so thankful to be serving Him here in the Philippines. Thank you for your continued prayers and for being a part of this ministry!

And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14